Youngstown captain aids in distribution of kerosene in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq — When the joint patrol arrived in Saydiyah, there was already a crowd of more than 150 families waiting for kerosene.

American soldiers from Company A, 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, along with policemen from 1st Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division, distributed the fuel recently to the neighborhood’s residents for the first time since September.

The distribution was important for the residents because Iraqis primarily use kerosene for cooking and for heating their homes.

The local residents lined up hours before so they could receive the fuel, said Capt. Benjamin Fielding of Youngstown, Company A’s commander.

“You can tell these people really needed this resource,” Fielding said. “Some of the locals have told me they came out to get a place in line as early as 5:30 a.m. this morning.”

The Iraqi police helped keep order so the thousands of people who made their way through the line could get their kerosene.

Iraqi Lt. Basher, the police platoon leader, worked well with the locals and was able to relate to their concerns by using his troops, as well as local leaders, to keep the crowd orderly and the operation running smoothly.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.